SANTEE, Calif — On March 5, 2001, Andy Williams opened fire on the Santana High School campus. He later pled guilty to two counts of murder, 13 counts of attempted murder, and was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
Now, after serving less than half his sentence, he's eligible for parole, but a local elected leader with ties to the shooting is fighting to keep him behind bars.
“Two people are no longer alive,” said CA Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. “They didn't get a 25 year second chance. They didn't get a 50 year second chance. They're dead. They're gone for good.”
Senator Jones, who represents California’s 40th District, went to Santana High School. And while he was no longer a student there the day of the shooting, he knows several people who were.
“My brother in law was on campus that day and two of his friends were shot,” he said. “He was in the line of fire and was missed.”
Jones, who currently lives just three blocks from the Santee campus, is furious that California's law changed after Williams' sentencing.
It now says anyone committed of a crime when they were 25 years of age or younger is automatically provided a parole hearing no later than their 25th year of incarceration. Williams was 15 when he committed the murders and he's been behind bars for 23 years.
“I get that he was young, but he knew what he was doing,” Jones said. “He had a game plan. He was determined. He spelled it out. He spoke about it.”
Jones sent a personal letter to the Board of Parole Hearings stating in part, "After taking the lives of two innocent high school students, wounding 13 others, and causing a lifetime of pain and trauma for the Santee community, I find it inconceivable that Williams would be released before even half his sentence is complete."
He's asking for the community’s help to fill out a petition he's posted online to stop the early release of the Santana High School shooter.
“And we'll be handing those signatures to the parole board and let them know that there is not community support for this parole,” Jones said.
Williams parole hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 10.
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